Bed attachment



May 12, 1953 Filed March 28, 1951 M. B. MISKIMEN BED ATTACHMENT 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 Q, i INVENTOR MADGE s. MISKIME'N MM 6am fi ATTORNEYS.

May 12, 1953 M. B. MISKIMEN BED ATTACHMENT 2 Shee-t s Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1951.

INVENTOR.

MADGE B. MlSKlM EN "M ATTOENEYJ.

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BED ATTACHMENT Madge B. Miskimen, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application March 28, 1951, Serial No. 218,020

Claims.

This invention relates to bed attachments, and has particular reference to an adjustable support for the bedclothes at the foot of the bed to relieve the occupants feet from the weight thereof, thus contributing to the comfort of the occupant, particularly in cases of foot injuries.

Numerous efforts have been made to provide a suitable support for bedclothes, but either the supports heretofore contrived are rigid attachments to a bed structure, such as the frame or spring, and hence, may not be readily disposed of when making up the bed or when the bed is occupiedby one not requiring the use of the at tachmentor the devices have been large, cumbersome and obtrusive,

1 In accordance with the present invention, an attachment for beds is provided which is simple in construction, effective in use for supporting bedclothes, and folds out of the way and out of sight when not in use, so as to enable the bed to be made u without interference by the apparent presence of the device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a longitudinal support for vertical arms is provided which extends under the mattress at the location of the occupants feet, is extensible longitudinally to accommodate the width of the mattress, and also holds the arms frictionallyagainst the corresponding opposite edges of the mattress whereby the arms may be adjusted to any angle above the surface of the mattress. The upper or free ends of the arms are connected by a tape, preferably an elastic tape, for supporting the bedclothes above the mattress.

It ;will be seen that the bed attachment of this invention may be readily and quickly emplaced under the mattress without requiring any attachment to the frame or spring of the bed and nevertheless is held firmly in adjusted position by frictional contact of the side arms with the edges of the mattress so that the elevation of the bedclothes by the supporting tape may be adjusted by regulating the angle of the side arms. When the bed is not in use, the side arms are simply folded down alongside the corresponding edges of the mattress either toward the head or the foot of the bed, so that the tape lies flatwise on the surface of the mattress sheet.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the bed attachment of this invention shown emplaced beneath a, mattress; and Fig. 2 is a perspective thereof showing its rela- 2 tion to the mattress while performing its bedclothes-lifting function.

Referring to the drawings, numerals l0 and H designate a pair of coil springs held relatively rigid laterally by internal rods I2 and [3 having transverse holes l4 near their outer ends secured to the outer ends of the corresponding springs in which is inserted the inwardly turned outer ends I5 of the springs I0 and l l.

The inner ends of the springs l0 and II are shaped to provide eyes l6 and H which are linked by a flexible inextensible member such as a link chain l8, whereby the device may be folded upon itself to reduce the space it occupies when packaged or in storage.

The outer ends of the rods l2 and I3 are turned. at right angles to each other to provide the corresponding lateral extensions [9 and 20 which serve as pins to be inserted in corresponding longitudi-,

nal sockets 2i and 22 formed in the ends of the parallel side arms 23 and 24 and preferably slightly tapered so as to grip the extensions [9 and 20, which may be tapered, alternatively.

Side arms 23 and 24 are preferably made of a suitable material such as wood, a phenolic resin, an initially plastic material, such as methyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate or chloride or a mixture thereof, or the like. The length of the side arms 23 and 24 depends somewhat on the height to which the bedclothes are to be elevated above the mattress, and upon the thickness of the mattress, but usually the total length of the side arms need not materially exceed sixteen inches.

Adapted to extend between the free ends of the side arms 23 and 24 to support the bedclothes is a suitable flexible tape 25, preferably elastic, so

as to extend tautly between the side arms 23 and 24 so as to adequately support the bedclothes resting thereon. Conveniently, tape 25 is provided with take-up clips 26 whereby to adjust the length of the tape 25.

So that the tape 25 may be readily detached for disassembly, cleansing and the like, the ends of the tape 25 are provided with metal loops 2'! which fit over corresponding pins 28 set into the free ends of the side arms 23 and 24, preferably within a recess 29, so that the pins 28 and the loops 21 do not form obstructions on which the bedclothes can catch while adjusting the angle of the arms 23 and 24.

In use of the bed attachment of this invention, it is first assembled by axially aligning the two spring portions l0 and H about the chain 18 to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the aligned spring portions I0 and II placed underneath the mattress M near the foot thereof approximately beneath the normal position of the occupants feet, as shown in Fig. 2.

The angular extensions l9 and 2|] are pulled apart so as to overlap the sides of the mattress as shown in Fig. 2 which requires stretching the springs It and H to the corresponding degree. Then the side pieces 23 and 24 are placed over the corresponding pins [9 and 20, with the flat surfaces of the side arms 23 and 24 frictionally engaging the sides of the mattress and to a degree depending upon the tension of springs to, and. H.

After the side arms 23 and 24 have beenplaced:

in the position in the manner described, the end loops 2'! of tape 25 are slipped over the corresponding pins 28 and then the sidearms mayj beez folded to a substantially horizontal position with the tape 25 lying flatwise upon the upper sur face of the mattress, i. e., upon the bottom sheet. The bed is then made-in the usual way, after which the side arms 23 and'24 and the tape- 25 will not be visible under the bedclothes When the-device isto be placed in use, the side arms 23 and 24- are moved upwardly about the axis of the corresponding rods- [2 and l3-to an angle determined-by-the height that it is desired to raise the bedclothesabove the mattress. By reason of the frictionwith which the side arms 23 and 24 are-held against the sides of the mattress, the side I arms 23 and 24- will remain in any angular position to which they have been moved.

Usually it-i's desired torelieve bothfeetof the weight of the bedclothes; so that arms 23 and-24 are normally moved to the-same angle. However, on occasion, only one side of the bedclothes is required to be elevated, and in that event, one of the side arms 23 'or 24 is moved to a higher angle thanthe other, a condition which is afforded-by the chain l8'enabling relative angular rnovement'between thesprings I6 and H, as will be readily understood.

Although a preferred embodiment of'the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood 'that'the invention "is not to be limited thereto, except bythe scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a bedclothes lifting attachment for a bed including a mattress, the combinationof an elongated member adapted to transversely under lie the mattress and to be held in place thereby, lateral side arms extending upwardly from the free ends of said member to be located at 013-- posite sides of the mattress, and aflexible bed clothes-supporting element extending between the free ends' of the side arms and adapted to extend across the-mattress to support the bedclothes in spaced relation to.,the mattress.

2. In a bedclothes lifting attachment for a bed including a mattress, the combination-of an elongated member adapted to transversely underlie the mattress and to be held in place thereby, lateral side arms extending upwardly from the :freeends of said member to be located at up-- posite sides of the mattress; a flexible bed-p clothes-supporting element extending between the free ends of the side arms for supporting the bedclothes in spaced relation to the-mattress, and a lost motion connection-in said elongated memberaifording relative angular movement between the side arms;

3-. "Ina bedclothes lifting attachment" "for a bed including a mattress; the' com'bination-of' an elongated member adapted to transversely underlie the mattress and to be held in place thereby, lateral side arms extending upwardly from the free ends of said member to be located at opposite sides of the mattress, a flexible bedclothes-supporting element extending between the free ends of the side arms and adapted to span the mattress and support the bedclothes in spaced relation to the mattress, and tension means insaid eiongated member: drawing the side arms frictionally against the corresponding sides of the mattress.

4. In a bedclothes lifting attachment for a bed including a mattress, the combination of an elon gatedlcoilspring adapted to transversely underlie the mattress-and'be held in place thereby, lateral sidetarms extending. upwardly from the free ends of said coil spring to be located at opposite sides of the mattress, and a flexible bedclothes-supporting element extending between the free ends ofthe side-arms and a'daptedtoextend across themattress and support the bedclothes'in'spacedi relation to the mattress.

5. In a bedclothes lifting attachment'fon a bed including a mattress, the combination of an elongated coil spring adapted to transversely underlie the mattress and beheld in place thereby, lateralside arms extendin upwardly from the free-ends of said coil spring to= be locatedat 'op posite sides of'the mattress, and a flexiblebed clothes-supporting element extending" between the free ends of the sides arm and adapted'to extend across the mattress and support the' bed' clothes in spaced relation tothe mattress;

6. In a bedclothes lifting-attachmentfora bed including a mattress, the combination-"eta pair of coil springs connected togetherto form an elongated member adapted tounderlie the-mattress, lateral side arms extending upwardly from" the freeends of said member-to be located at opposite sides of themattressnnda flexible'bed clothes-supporting element extending between: the free ends of the side arms and adapted to extend across the-mattress and support the bed clothes in spaced relation tothe'mattress'.

7. In a-bedclothes lifting attachment for'a bed including a mattress, the-combination ofan elongated coil spring adapted to transversely underliethe mattress, rods projecting-fromwh'e opposite free ends of said spring and secured: thereto, upward extensions on the projecting rods to be located at opposite sides'of themattres's, and a flexible bedclothes-supporting element ex-' tending between thefree ends of theextensions to support thebedclothes'in spacedrelation to the mattress.

8. In a bedclothes lifting attachment for-- a bed including a mattress, the-combinationof a pair of coil springs, a rod projecting from one end of each spring and secured thereto; a flexible connection between the otherends' of said springs to form an elongated-memberadapted to underlie the mattress and beheld'im place thereby 'upwar-d extensions on the projecting rods to be 10- cated atopposite sides of the'matt'reSs, and "a flexible bedclothes-supporting element extending between the free ends of the extensions tosupport the bedclothesin spaced relation to the mattress."

9.-Ina bedclothes" lifting attachmentfo'r a bed including a mattress, the combination of an elongated member adapted to uriderlie the mattress and beheld in'place thereby-lateral pina extending upwardly from the fr'ee'end-s" oisaid member to be located at'opposite sidespf the pair of coil springs, a rod projecting from one 10 end of each spring and secured thereto, a flexible" connection between the other ends of said springs to form 3J1 elongated member adapted to underlie the mattress and be held in place thereby;

upward extensions on the projecting rods at op- 15 posite sides of the mattress, side arms having end sockets for removably receiving the corresponding upward extensions, and a flexible bedclothessupporting element extending between the free ends of the side arms and adapted to extend across the mattress and support the bedciothes in spaced relation to the mattress.

' MADGE B. MISKIMEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 396,024 Drake Oct. 21, 1884 1,460,233 Drew June 26, 1923 

